Replaceable fuel cell apparatus having information storage device

• US 6,828,049 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bullock, Michael L., Childers, Winthrop D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US10/000,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20030082426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 429/22, 429/23, 429/30
• US Class Current: 429/432
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1007 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell apparatus in accordance with a present invention includes an information storage device. A method of operating a host device in accordance with a present invention includes the step(s) of writing data to, and/or accessing data on, a fuel cell apparatus information storage device. A system in accordance with a present invention includes a host device and a fuel cell apparatus with an information storage device.

Claims

1. A fuel cell apparatus for use with a host device having a processor and a processor link, the fuel cell apparatus comprising:

a fuel reservoir;

an information storage device; and

an information storage device link, operably connected to the information storage device, configured to operably connect the information storage device to the processor link.

2. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a bi-product reservoir.

3. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage device link comprises an electrical connector.

4. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage device comprises non-volatile memory.

5. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage device defines a data structure and stores data indicative of the data structure.

6. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage device stores data that is used by the host device to determine whether the fuel cell apparatus is acceptable for use with the host device.

7. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents at least one of an initial fuel level, a current fuel level, and a low fuel warning threshold.

8. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents current fuel level in a decrementable data field.

9. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage device stores data that will trigger a predetermined host device function.

10. A fuel cell apparatus for use with a host device having a processor and a processor link, the fuel cell apparatus comprising:

a fuel reservoir;

a fluid connector configured to releasably connect the fuel reservoir to a fluid connector in the host device;

an information storage device; and

an information storage device link, operably connected to the information storage device, configured to operably connect the information storage device to the processor link.

11. A fuel cell apparatus for use with a host device having a processor and a processor link, the fuel cell apparatus comprising:

a fuel reservoir;

a housing enclosing the fuel reservoir;

at least one fuel cell, located at least partially within he housing, connected to the fuel reservoir;

an information storage device; and

an information storage device link, operably connected to the information storage device, configured to operably connect the information storage device to the processor link.

12. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one fuel cell comprises a fuel cell stack.

13. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one fuel cell comprises a PEM fuel cell.

14. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a power contact, operably connected to the at least one fuel cell, configured to electrically connect the fuel cell to the host device.

15. A fuel cell apparatus for use with host device having a processor and a processor link, the fuel cell apparatus comprising:

a fuel reservoir;

an information storage device; and

a non-contact information storage device link, operably connected to the information storage device, configured to operably connect the information storage device to the processor link.

16. A fuel cell apparatus for use with a host device having a processor, a display and a processor link, the fuel cell apparatus comprising:

a fuel reservoir;

an information storage device that stores data that will trigger the displaying of a message on the display corresponding to data stored in the information storage device; and

an information storage device link, operably connected to the information storage device, configured to operably connect the information storage device to the processor link.

17. A replaceable fuel cell device for use with host device having a processor, a processor link and at least one host power contact, the fuel cell device comprising:

a fuel reservoir;

at least one fuel cell operably connected to the reservoir;

at least one fuel cell power contact configured to be operably connected to the at least one host power contact when the fuel cell device is received by the host device;

an information storage device; and

an information storage device link, operably connected to the information storage device, configured to operably connect the information storage device to the processor link when the fuel cell device is received by the host device.

18. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

a bi-product reservoir operably connected to the at least one fuel cell.

19. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one fuel cell comprises a fuel cell stack.

20. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one fuel cell comprises a PEM fuel cell.

21. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information storage device link comprises an electrical connector.

22. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information storage device link comprises a non-contact link.

23. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information storage device comprises non-volatile memory.

24. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information storage device defines a data structure and stores data indicative of the data structure.

25. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information storage device stores data that is used by the host device to determine whether the fuel cell device is acceptable for use with the host device.

26. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents at least one of an initial fuel level, a current fuel level, and a low fuel warning threshold.

27. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents current fuel level in a decrementable data field.

28. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents non-operative information.

29. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information storage device stores data that will trigger a predetermined host device function.

30. A fuel cell device as claimed in claim 29, wherein host device includes a display and the predetermined host function comprises a displaying a message on the display corresponding to data stored in the information storage device.

31. A fuel cell apparatus for use with a host device having a processor and a processor link, the fuel cell apparatus comprising:

a fuel reservoir;

an information storage device; and

an information storage device link, operably connected to the information storage device, configured to operably connect the information storage device to the processor link when the fuel cell apparatus is connected to the host device and to disconnect the information storage device from the processor link when the fuel cell apparatus is disconnected from the host device.

32. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 31, further comprising:

a bi-product reservoir.

33. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the information storage device comprises non-volatile memory.

34. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the information storage device stores data that is used by the host device to determine whether the fuel cell apparatus is acceptable for use with the host device.

35. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents at least one of an initial fuel level, a current fuel level, and a low fuel warning threshold.

36. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents current fuel level in a decrementable data field.

37. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents non-operative information.

38. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the information storage device stores data that will trigger a predetermined host device function.

39. A fuel cell apparatus for use with a host device having a processor and a processor link, the fuel cell apparatus comprising:

a fuel reservoir;

an information storage device; and

an information storage device link, operably connected to the information storage device, configured to operably connect the information storage device to the processor link;

wherein the information storage device link and processor link are not located on a common circuit board.

40. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

a bi-product reservoir.

41. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the information storage device comprises non-volatile memory.

42. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the information storage device stores data that is used by the host device to determine whether the fuel cell apparatus is acceptable for use with the host device.

43. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents at least one of an initial fuel level, a current fuel level, and a low fuel warning threshold.

44. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents current fuel level in a decrementable data field.

45. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the information storage device stores data that represents non-operative information.

46. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the information storage device stores data that will trigger a predetermined host device function.